Ski heel retainer



y 7, 1963 L. o. MARTIN 3,088,138

SKI HEEL RETAINER Filed Aug. 31, 1961 46 Leona d 0. Martin 22 45 44 /6 r INVENTOR.

:33: 1 40 BY W406i n MW United States Patent ice 3,088,138 SKI HEEL RETAINER Leonard 0. Martin, RR. 1, Box 107E, Monterrey, Ind. Filed Aug. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 135,210 Claims. (Cl. 9-310) This invention relates to a novel and useful ski heel retainer for a water ski.

The ski heel retainer includes a mounting plate having means adapted to mount the plate on a water ski for movement longitudinally of the ski and the mounting plate is constructed in a manner to define a genenally U-slraped recess opening in a direction extending longitudinally of the ski. An upstanding heel embracing cup constructed of flexible, resilient and elastomeric material and including a lower end portion which is substantially U-snaped in plan is provided and means is provided for removably securing the lower end of the heel retaining cup to the portions of the mounting plate defining the recess formed therein. In this manner, the heel embracing cup may be readily replaced without also replacing the mounting plate therefor.

In addition, the lower end of the heel retaining cup includes a laterally and outwardly projecting flange and the portions of the mounting plate defining the U shaped recess are laterally offset from the remainder of the mounting plate thereby defining a recess between the mounting plate and the ski to which it is secured for receiving the laterally and outwardly projecting flange.

The means provided for mounting the plate on a water ski for movement longitudinally of the ski includes ratchet means adapted to enable free movement of the mounting plate of the ski heel retainer in one direction and releasably retaining the mounting plate against movement longtiudinally of the ski in the opposite direction.

The main object of this invention is .to provide a ski heel retainer including a mounting plate and a resilient heel embracing cup which is removably secured to the mounting plate whereby the heel embracing cup may be readily replaced when replacement thereof is desired.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a ski heel retainer including mounting means for mounting the ski heel retainer on a water ski for movement longitudinally thereof and including ratchet means operatively connected with the ski heel retainer and adapted for securement to the ski and constructed in a manner enabling free movement of the mounting plate of the heel retainer in one direction longitudinally of the ski while releas-ably retaining the mounting plate in position against movement longitudinally of the ski in the opposite direction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ski heel retainer which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is :a perspective view of a water ski shown with the ski heel retainer of the instant invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the portion of the water ski on which the ski heel retainer is mounted and on somewhat of an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal secinsane 2 tional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of the ski heel retainer and showing the manner in which the detent means may be assembled.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of water ski having a front foot binding assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 secured thereto. A rear binding assembly or ski heel retainer is generally referred to by the reference numeral 14 and it will be noted that the ski heel retainer comprises a generally rectangular mounting plate referred to in general by the reference numeral 16 which extends transversely of the ski 10 and includes a pair of transverse slots 18 and 20 through which suitable fasteners 22 and 24 are passed and secured in the body portion 26 of the ski 10 for mounting the plate -16 for movement longitudinally of the ski. It will be noted that the fasteners 22 and 24 may be adjusted to retain the mounting plate in adjusted position longitudinally of the ski 10 although in most instances, for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent, the fasteners 22 and 24 are loosened so as to enable free sliding movement of the mounting plate 16 longitudinally of the ski 10.

The mounting plate 16 includes a generally U-shaped laterally and upwardly offset portion generally referred to by the reference numeral 26 which defines a forwardly opening and generally U-shaped recess 28.

An upstanding heel embracing cup generally referred to by the reference numeral 30 is provided and is constructed of flexible, resilient and elastomeric material such as rubber and includes a lower end portion 32 which is substantially U-shaped in plan and has formed thereon an integral laterally and outwardly projecting flange 34. The upwardly and laterally oifset portion 26 of the mounting plate 16 defines a recess 36 between the lower surface 38 of the laterally and upwardly offset portion 26 and the upper surface 40 of the ski 10. The flange 34 is positioned in underlying relation to the laterally and upwardly offset portion 26 and is provided with a plurality of small diameter apertures 42 which are spaced about the flange 34. A plurality of depending eye members 46 including lower eye portions 48 are carried by the undersurface of the upwardly and laterally offset portion 26 and have their eye portions disposed through corresponding apertures 42. Elongated and generally horizontally disposed fasteners 50 are secured through the eye portions 48 and in this manner the flange 34 is secured to the undersurface of the laterally offset portion 26. It will be noted that the eye portions 48 extend downwardly toward the upper surface 49 of the ski -10 to a point spaced from the ski 10 a distance less than the thickness of the flange 34 whereby the heel embracing cup 30 will be retained in position even if the fasteners 50 should break or become accidentally dislodged from their position engaged with the eye portions 48.

It is to be noted that the upstanding heel embracing cup is constructed in a manner to embracingly engage the heel of a persons foot whose toes and instep portion are disposed within the front binding 12.

It will further be noted that the mounting plate 16 includes a rearwardly directed shank portion generally Patented May 7, 1963 referred to by the reference numeral 52 and that the shank portion 52 has a longitudinally extending slot 54 formed therein. The slot 54 includes opposite side walls 56 and 58 and the side wall 58 includes rearwardly facing teeth 69. A wedge block generally referred to by the reference numeral 62 is centrally apertured as at 64 and is pivotally secured to the ski 10 by means of a pivot fastener 66 engaged with the ski 10 and extending upwardly through the slot 54. A leaf spring which is generally U-shaped in plan and referred to by the reference numeral 68 has one end portion engaged with a stop pin 70 which is embedded in the ski 10 and projects upwardly into the slot 54 and the other end portion of the leaf spring 68 is engaged with the wedge block 62 as at 72 to urge the wedge block, by means of the leaf spring whose bight portion 74 is disposed about the pivot fastener 66, in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 2 and to position one corner 76 of the block 62 in position to be engaged with one of the teeth 60. In this manner, the wedge block 62 will releasably prevent rearward movement of the plate 16 while enabling free forward movement of the plate 16. If it is desired to move the plate 16 forward from the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 5 of the drawings, the plate 16 is merely pushed forwardly whereupon the teeth 60 will cam the wedge block 62 in a counterclockwise direction to enable passage of the teeth 60 past the wedge block 62. It is for this reason that the fasteners 22 and 24 are not normally tightened to prevent movement of the plate 16 in either direction longitudinally of the ski 10. However, if it is desired to more or less semi-permanently retain the plate 16 in position longitudinally of the ski 10, the fasteners 22 and 24 may be tightened.

It will be noted that the heel embracing cup 30 also includes an upper laterally directed flange 78 which overlies the rearmost portion of the flange 34 and defines a pocket between the rearmost portion of the flange 34 and the flange 78 in which to receive the rearmost portion of the upwardly and laterally offset portion 26.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ski heel retainer for a water ski comprising a mounting plate defining a recess which is generally U-shaped in plan, mounting means adapted to mount said mounting plate on a water ski for movement longitudinally of said ski and along a line extending in the direction in which said U-shaped recess opens, an upstanding heel embracing cup constructed of flexible, resilient and elastomeric material and including a lower end portion substantially U-shaped in plan, means securing the lower end of said cup to the portions of said mounting plate defining said recess and with said lower end opening in the same direction as said recess, said plate including a lower surface having a first portion thereof adapted to be disposed in sliding contacting relation to the upper surface of said water ski, the lower surface of the portions of said plate defining said recess being laterally and upwardly offset from said first portion of said lower surface, the lower end of said heel embracing cup including a laterally outwardly projecting flange, said securing means including means securing said cup to said plate with said flange underlying said offset lower surface disposed about said recess, said flange having a plurality of small diameter apertures formed therein and spaced about said flange, said securing means comprising a plurality of eye members secured to and depending from the lower surface of said upwardly offset portions, the lower ends of said eye members being passed through said apertures and having elongated horizontally disposed fasteners secured therethrough.

2. A ski heel retainer for a water ski comprising a mounting plate defining a recess which is generally U-shaped in plan, mounting means adapted to mount said mounting plate on a water ski for movement longitudinal- 1y of said ski and along a line extending in the direction in which said U-shaped recess opens, an upstanding heel embracing cup constructed of flexible, resilient and elastomeric material and including a lower end portion substantially U-shaped in plan, means securing the lower end of said cup to the portions of said mounting plate defining said recess and with said lower end opening in the same direction as said recess, said plate including a lower surface having a first portion thereof adapted to be disposed in sliding contacting relation to the upper surface of said water ski, the lower surface of the portions of said plate defining said recess being laterally and upwardly offset from said first portion of said lower surface, the lower end of said heel embracing cup including a laterally outwardly projecting flange, said securing means including means securing said cup to said plate with said flange underlying said offset lower surface disposed about said recess, said securing means including means for removably securing said flanges to the portions of said plate defining said recess, said flange having a plurality of small diameter apertures formed therein and spaced about said flange, said securing means comprising a plurality of eye members secured to and depending from the lower surface of said upwardly offset portions, the lnwer ends of said eye members being passed through said apertures and having elongated horizontally disposed fasteners secured therethrough.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said eye members project below said upwardly offset portion to a point spaced from the plane of the lower surface of said first portion of said plate a distance less than the thickness of said flange.

4. A ski heel retainer for a water ski comprising a mounting plate defining a recess which is generally U-shaped in plan, mounting means adapted to mount said mounting plate on a water ski for movement longitudinally of said ski and along a line extending in the direction in which said U-shaped recess opens, an oupstanding heel embracing cup constructed of flexible, resilient and elastomeric material and including a lower end portion substantially U-shaped in plan, means securing the lower end of said cup to the portions of said mounting plate defining said recess and with said lower end opening in the same direction as said recess, said plate including a lower surface having a first portion thereof adapted to be disposed in sliding contacting relation to the upper surface of said water ski, the lower surface of the portions of said plate defining said recess being laterally and upwardly oflset from said first portion of said lower surface, the lower end of said heel embracing cup including a laterally outwardly propecting flange, said securing means including means securing said cup to said plate with said flange underlying said offset lower surface disposed about said recess, said flange having a plurality of small diameter apertures formed therein and spaced about said flange, said securing means comprising a plurality of eye members secured to and depending from the lower surface of said upwardly offset portions, the lower ends of said eye members being passed through said apertures and having elongated horizontally disposed fasteners secured therethrough, said mounting means including an elongated shank portion on said plate disposed and extending rearwardly of said cup, said shank portion including ratchet teeth opening in a rearward direction, and detent means adapted to be movably mounted on said ski for movement between first and second positions and for engagement with said teeth when in said first position for preventing rearward movement of said plate relative to said ski, and means operatively connected with said detent means and adapted for engagement with said ski yieldably urging said detent means toward said first position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said shank portion includes a longitudinal slot, said ratchet teeth being formed in one side wall of said slot and said detent means including a Wedge member disposed in said slot and including means adapted to pivotally mount said wedge member to said ski with a portion thereof engaged with one of said teeth when in said first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tappe Oct. 2, Wagner Feb. 18, Kluge Jan. 5, Walter Apr. 26, Kluge Mar. 14, Dalpiaz June 20, 

1. A SKI HEEL RETAINER FOR A WATER SKI COMPRISING A MOUNTING PLATE DEFINING A RECESS WHICH IS GENERALLY U-SHAPED IN PLAN, MOUNTING MEANS ADAPTED TO MOUNT SAID MOUNTING PLATE ON A WATER SKI FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SKI AND ALONG THE LINE EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID U-SHAPED RECESS OPENS, AN UPSTANDING HEEL EMBRACING CUP CONSTRUCTED OF FLEXIBLE, A RESILIENT AND ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A LOWER END PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED IN PLAN, MEANS SECURING THE LOWER END OF SAID CUP TO THE PORTIONS OF SAID MOUNTING PLATE DEFINING SAID RECESS AND WITH SAID LOWER END OPENING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID RECESS, SAID PLATE INCLUDING A LOWER SURFACE HAVING A FIRST PORTION THEREOF ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN SLIDING CONTACTING RELATION TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID WATER SKI, THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE PORTIONS OF SAID PLATE DEFINING SAID RECESS BEING LATERALLY AND UPWARDLY OFFSET FROM SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID LOWER SURFACE, THE LOWER END OF SAID HEEL EMBRACING CUP INCLUDING A LATERALLY OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE, SAID SECURING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS SECURING SAID CUP TO SAID PLATE WITH SAID FLANGE UNDERLYING SAID OFFSET LOWER SURFACE DISPOSED ABOUT SAID RECESS, SAID FLANGE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SMALL DIAMETER APERTURES FORMED THEREIN AND SPACED ABOUT SAID FLANGE, SAID SECURING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURLITY OF EYE MEMBERS SECURED TO AND DEPENDING FROM THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID UPWARDLY OFFSET PORTIONS, THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID EYE MEMBERS BEING PASSED THROUGH SAID APERTURES AND HAVING ELONGATED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FASTENERS SECURED THERETHROUGH. 